Typewriting machine



July 30, 1929; 1.. c. MYERS 197225439 TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. c. MYERS TYPEWRITING MACHINE July 30, 1929.

Filed Oct. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEWIS C. MYERS, OF FREEPOR T, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROYAL 'IYPEWRITER I COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N.'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

1' SIPEWRITING MACHINE.

, Application filed October 18, 1927. Serial No. 226,953.

This invention relates to a type action for 5 type bar is provided witha plurality of groups of two type each. Each type bar is operated by twokey levers for the purpose of selecting the desired type of each groupand the platen is shifted in theusual or any '10 desired manner in orderto bring it into a position to cooperate with the selected group oftypes.

The sliding type bars are actuated by a toggle mechanism which reaches astraight line position at the time of printing so that the actualprinting is performed by pressure rather than by impact. Means areprovided for obtaininga relative adjustment between the normal positionof the platen and the type bars in order that the force of the imprintmay be varied as may be desired for manifolding.

One of each pair of keys merely gives the type bar its sliding movement,while the other keynot only gives the'type bar the same slidingmovement, but gives a lifting movement to a guide member which supportsthe type bar in its travel to the printingpoint, thereby lifting the barinto position so that another type of the group is brought to theprinting point. The type bar is glven 1 its sliding and liftingmovements at subtance after the guide has reached the full ex}stantially the same time but the lifting movement is completed beforethe type bar reaches the printing point and the connections between thesecond key lever and the guide which lifts the type bar are such thatthe key lever may be moved a slight further distent of its movement.

The connections between the key lever and the toggle member in thepresent embodiment of the invention comprise two bell crank levers withthe necessary link connections arul are so arranged that the type barmoves thegreater part of the distance to the printing point during arelatively small part of the movement of the key levers so'thateach typebar recedes from the printing osition very rapidly. upon the release oft e key lever. The'intermediate connections are also so arranged'tliatonly a very light touch is necessary toproduce the printing movement ofthe type bar.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description and will be set forth in the appended claims.-

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a single type actionwith parts in fore and aft section, the full line position denoting thenormal position of the parts and the dotted line position denoting theprinting position when one of the key levers is depressed.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing in full lines the position taken bythe parts when the other of the key levers which control the same typebar is fully depressed.

The invention may be embodied in typewriting machines of widelydiiferent char acter in other respects,- and for this reason the otherinstrumentalities of the typewriting machine have not been illustrated.lhere is indicated in platen A which is movable to a second positionindicated in dotted lines by any usual or desired form of case shiftmechanism.

Each type bar 1 is mounted to slide and is preferably made in skeletonform for the sake of lightness and is provided with four type a, b, c,and d. When the platen is in its lower position as shown in Figure 1,operation of the type bar will print from one of the type a or d. If thetype bar is given merely its longitudinal movement, the printing impresswill be from the type c as indicated in Figure 1 While if the type baris simultaneously lifted by the depression of the other key whichoperates the same, the imprint will be from the type d as shown inFigure 2. If it is desired to print from types a or b, the platen isshifted to the dotted line position an the two key levers control theselection of the types a or b in similar manner..

Each'type bar is guided on a supporting ,frame member 2 which forms onepart of a I 2 at 5 is a plate 6 which extends upwardly and has bent overears 7 engaging the upper edge of the type bar. The projections 4, plate6' andears- 7 which engage the type bar at a set screw 18.

different points along its length serve to a bent over ear 40 whichoverlies the arm 30. as

guide the same accurately to the printing oint.

Attached to an intermediate portion 8 of the type bar at 9 is a link 10.This link is illustrated as two-"parallel members ,connected by webportions 11 and This is primarily for convenience in manufacture and toadd stability to the parts, but it is possible to omit the web portions11 and 12 and employ merely two parallellink members or if desired asingle link member may be used. It is, however, preferable to employ thedouble members since one of these passes on each side of the type barand serves to guide'the rear end thereof in its movement. Pivoted at 13to the link 10 is a short link 14 which together with the link 10 formsa toggle member. This link 14 is pivoted at its other end at 15 to asupporting member 16 mounted in the frame of the machine. An extension17 from the member 16 passes through a bar 18 carried by the frame ofthe machine and is held in adjusted position by A screw threaded intothe member 18 has a head 19 which fits in a cutout 20 of the. extension17 so that the move ment of the screw will adjust the position of themember 16. This member 16 not only supports the link 14 but as willbe'noted, supports the remainder of the intermediate connections betweenthe key lever and the link 14. An adjustment of the member 16 will,therefore, determine theeifective printing position of the type bar andby adjusting the intermediateconnections will preserve the desiredrelation between the various parts. It may be noted that it is alsopos-- sible to mount themembers 16 rigidly and obtain thedesiredadjustment between the platen and type bar by adjusting the platen I inany well known or desired manner.

'Pivoted at 21 to an ear intermediate the ends of the link 14 is a link22 pivoted at its other end at 23 to one arm 24 of a bell crank leverwhich is pivotally supported at 25 on the member 16. The arm 24 isprovided with an ear 26 to which is attached one end of a spring 27 theother end of which is fast to a portion of the member 16. This spring 27assists-in breaking the toggle and returnlng the parts to normalposition p when vpressure. is removed. from the ke lever.

The lowerarm 28 of this bell crank ever is connected bya link 29 to anarm 30 which is ivoted at 31 to the lower end of the mem- 116. U 1 Keylevers 32 and 33'are pivotedat 34 and are returned to normal.position'by' springs 35 which are connected to a bridge member s 36carried by vthe machine frame. The key lever 32 is connectedby a link 37to one arm 38 of a bell crank ivoted on the axis 31 and having its seconarm 39 provided with cam has a slight dwe parts are heldin substantiallyfixed position The other ke lever 33 of each pair is connected by asimilar link 37 to one arm of a bell crank 41 also ivoted on the axis 31but 1 ing on the ot or side of the link 30 and 6 ing slightly longerthan the corresponding arm 39 of the other bell crank lever. This bellcrank lever 41 is provided with an ofiset ear ,42 which also overliesthe arm 30. It is-evident from this construction that a depression ofeither of the key levers will operate the arm 30 and the wholetype-action without affecting the position of the other key lever of thepair.

The supporting and guiding member 2 has a downwardly extending arm 43which is connected by a lost motion pin and slot connection '44 to abell crank lever 45.which is pivoted at 46 to the upper end of a lever47 which is in turn pivoted at 48. The bell crank lever has an arm 49and the lever 47 has a projection 51 which is connected to the arm 49 bya spring 50. It is obvious that this construction will'cause the lever47 and'the bell crank 45 to move normally together but will permit anadditionalmovement of the lever 47 afterthe bell crank 45 and theguiding member 2 have been moved to the limit of their movement. Thisadditional movement will, of course, tension the movements by adjustablestop screws 52 and 53 carried by a plate 54 attached to the bell crank45. s

The supporting and guiding member 2 has a lug 55 on the lower sidethereof which nor mally engages an adjustable stop screw 56 threadedinto a frame member 57. The engagement of this In with the sto screwdetermines the norma position of t e parts as shown in Figure 1. Whenthe member 2 is lifted by the'depression of the second key lever of eachgroup, the lug 55 will engage the underside of the head 58 of anadjustable stop screw 59 threaded into the frame member 57. This willlimit the upward 'movement of the guiding member 2 and the type bar 1and the sition ofthe parts will be that shown in igure 2. The guidingmember 2 is normally held in its lower position by a spring 60 connectedthereto at one end and at its other end. to a fixed part 61. h

The movement of the bell crank lever and lever 47 which results inlifting the ty e bar is brought about by the engagement of a pin 62 onthe lever33 which in its downward movement enga es a cam 63 on the lowerend of the lever 47 ereb rocking the same from the Figure 1 to the i re2 sition. I This portion so that the at the lower portion of themovement of the key lever.

ere may also be provided an additional maaase in the same action in bothpositions of thetype bar. It is also noted that by the provision ofseparate adjustments for each supporting member 16, the printingposition of each type bar may be varied individually. If the platen isadjusted for this purpose, it is of course impossible to obtain result.

From the foregoing it will .be apparent that when the platen is in lowercase position and it is desired to print the type 0, the key lever 32will be depressed. The depression of this key lever does not tilt thesupporting frame because there are no connections between said lever andsaid frame. The lever, however, through the medium of the link 37,bell-crank lever 38, arm 30, link 29, bell-crank lever 24:, 28, and link22, operates thetoggle 10,14 and thereby moyesthe type bar rear-" wardlyto print the type 0. v I

When the platen is in lower case position and it is desired to print thetype d, the key lever. 33 will be depressed. This lever, through themedium of the link 37, bellcrank lever 41, arm 30, link 29, bell-cranklever 24, 28, and link 22, operates the toggle 10, 14 and thereby movesthe type bar rearwardly to print the type d.

The depression of this leverwill tilt the frame 2 and thereby elevatethe rear end thereof. This action is effected by the pin 62 engaging thecam 63 on the depending arm of the lever 47, rocking said arm on itspivot 48 to cause the lever to swing and thereby tilt the frame 2. Then,while the pin 62 is engaged with the dwell portion of the cam 63, theframe 2 is retained in its inclined position during the last part of thedepression movement of the key lever 33 and durin the last part of theprinting movement 0 the type bar. I

When it is desired to print either of the types a or b, the platen isfirst elevated to upper case position. Then if the type a 1s to beprinted, the key lever 32 will be depressed and the mechanism willoperate in the same manner as described in connection with the type 0,whereas if the type b is to be printed, the key lever 33 will bedepressed and the mechanism will operate in the same manner as describedin connection with the type (3.

Thus, there is provided a vertically movable support on which the ty ebar slides, connections between the type er and both key levers whichare 0 erative upon the deression of either key ever to slide the typebar to printing position, and other connecthis desired tions between thesupport and one of the key levers only which are operative upon thedepression of the last mentioned key lever to vertically move thesupport.

While the type action is illustrated in a construction in which the keylevers are depressed throughout their full extent manually, neverthelessthe action may be embodied in a power operated machine if desired. It isapparent that the detail construction may be widely varied without inany way departing from the spirit of the invention, and the drawingsare, therefore, to be regarded as illustrating and not as limiting theinvention in any way.

I claim as my invention:

1. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with aplurality of groups of type, the types being arranged vertically oneabove the other, key levers associated with the type bar andcorresponding in'number to the number of type in each group, a pivotedsupport upon which the type bar slides, connections between the type barand the key levers operative upon the depression of each key lever forsliding the type bar to printing position, said connections includingapivoted operating arm, and separate connections between the operatinarm and the respective key levers, and other connections between thesupport and one key lever-only and operative upon the depression of saidkey lever for tilting said support to bring another type to printingposition.

i 2. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with aplurality of groups of type, the types being arranged vertically oneabove the other, key levers associated with the type bar andcorresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a pivotedsupport upon which the type bar slides, connections between the type barand the key levers operative upon the depression of each key lever forsliding the type bar to printing position, and other connections betweenthe support and one key lever only and operative upon the depression ofsaid key lever for tilting said support to bring another type toprinting position, said support in normal position being inclineddownwardly from the horizontal in one direction and in shifted positionbeing inclined upwardly an equal distance from the horizontal in theother direction.

3. A type action comprising a slidable'type bar provided with two roupsof type, two key a levers associated with t e type bar, and means foroperating the type bar from either key lever, said operating meansincluding a pivoted arm connected to the type bar, two bellcrank leversindependently engageable with 1 5 3' the pivoted arm, and linksrespectively connecting the bell-crank levers and the' key leverswhereby the depression of either key lever will move the type bar toprinting po-- sition. Ase

' type bar to printing position upon the depression of either key lever,and means con-.

trolled by the depression of one key lever only for vertically movingsaid support, said controllingmeans including an arm fixed to thesupport, a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on a fixed axis, a lever pivotedon the bell-crank lever for limited movements relative thereto andhaving pivotal connection with said arm, and a pin and cam connectionbetweenthe bell-crank lever and said key lever.

. 5. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with twogroups of type, the types being arranged vertically one above the other,two key levers associated with the type bar, a vertical] movable supportupon which the type bar s ides, means for operating the type bar fromeither key lever including a ivoted arm connected to the type bar, twoBell-crank levers independently engageable with the pivoted arm, andlinks respectively connecting the bell-crank levers and the key leverswhereby the depression of either key lever will move the type bar toprinting position, and means controlled by the depression of one keylever only for vertically moving said support. I

6. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with aplurality of groups of type, key levers associated with the type bar andcorresponding in number to the number of type in each group, a movablesupport for the type bar, means for operating the type bar whichincludes a plurality of bell crank levers pivoted to a. fixedsupport,means whereby the operation of each of said bell shifting the movablesupport.

' 7. A type action comprising a slidable type bar provided with aplurality of groups of type, key levers operatively associated with thetype bar and corresponding in number to the number of type in eachgroup, and means for operating the type bar from either key leverincluding an operating arm mounted on a fixed pivot, and separateconnections between the operating arm and therespective key levers.

8. A type action comprising a sli'dable type bar provided with twogroups of type, the types being arranged vertically one above the other,two key levers associated with the type bar. a vertically movablesupport upon which the type bar slides, means for moving the type bar toprinting position upon the depression of either key lever, andmeans'controlled by the depression of one key lever only for vertieallymoving said support, said controlling means including an arm fixed tothe support, a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on a fixed axis,

a lever pivoted on the bell-crank lever for limited movements relativethereto and having pivotal connection with said arm, stops carried byone of the levers for cooperation with the other lever to limit relativemovements of said levers, a spring connecting said levers for yieldablyretaining one lever against one of the stops, and a pin and camconnection between the bell-crank lever and said key lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subi scribed my name.

LEWIS C. MYERS.

